If Jamie Oliver thinks that turkey twizzlers and chips are the most unhealthy food in Britain, then he obviously hasn't been to this extraordinary Michelin-starred restaurant in a former Lyons tea house in Smithfields, whose 'French tapas' style - ordering three to five small dishes per diner - fails to disguise a menu that gives your arteries palpitations. The speciality is foie gras, available on its own, as a major or minor ingredient in around a third of the dishes, and even as an ingredient in one of the puddings. Other delights include sturdy mixtures like lobster with black pudding, and the buttery pleasures of traditional French fare such as confit de canard. Club Gascon well deserves its superb reputation and raft of awards. This is food which matches outrageous flair to the solid virtues of a bistro kitchen - just don't tell Jamie.

If Jamie Oliver thinks that turkey twizzlers and chips are the most unhealthy food in Britain, then he obviously hasn't been to this extraordinary Michelin-starred restaurant in a former Lyons tea house in Smithfields, whose 'F..
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The Gaucho Grill boasts the finest Argentine steak (Bife de Lomo) in London. The consistently high quality is spread throughout all of its London venues. The Argentines not being renowned for their meat-free dishes, this place is not for vegetarians, but carnivores can delight in a huge range of superb grilled meats, seared fish and also unusual specialties like steak tartare. Meat dishes have to be backed up with side ordered vegetables which are uniformly good. The wine list is huge, and the service manages to be macho while being friendly and efficient. This is a first-class steak house next to the picturesque Smithfield Market - a place where meat has been the mainstay of life for centuries.

The Gaucho Grill boasts the finest Argentine steak (Bife de Lomo) in London. The consistently high quality is spread throughout all of its London venues. The Argentines not being renowned for their meat-free dishes, this place is..
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This gory Michelin-starred restaurant often slips into those "Best 50 restaurants in the World" lists - and it's not hard to see why. Although picky eaters and the squeamish should best avoid St John: the ever-changing seasonal menu boasts delights such as rolled pig spleen, chitterlings (stewed pig intestines), brains, offal, tongue, bone marrow, and the odd little squiggly bits that even a vet wouldn't recognise. Since Fergus Henderson and Trevor Gulliver opened St John in 1994 it has been credited with the creation of a whole Modern British food movement - of the 'nose to tail' type, using all conceivable parts of the animal. But it's not all that outlandish: classics such as roast middlewhite pig, mallard duck, brill, crumbed veal and braised rabbit still feature at the former smokehouse, situated in a Georgian building around the corner from London's Smithfield Market. For a convivial meal, the best thing to is order in advance from the feasting menu, which gives your whole table a single dish to share, like Whole Roast Suckling Pig, or a huge Pigeon, Beef and Trotter Pie. The advance ordering allows them to time their baking and roasting to perfection. They also do a nice line in foraged food, with leaves, dandelions, and wild mushrooms often available on the specials board, and puddings plucked from hedgerows and woods. In fact, they even have some very decent vegetarian options... so long as you don't mind what your carnivorous neighbours are eating.

This gory Michelin-starred restaurant often slips into those "Best 50 restaurants in the World" lists - and it's not hard to see why. Although picky eaters and the squeamish should best avoid St John: the ever-changing seasona..
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Le Cafe Du Marche is three restaurants under one roof - Le Cafe, Le Grenier and Le Rendezvous. Le Cafe is an elegent French restaurant on the ground floor, Le Grenier is a private upstairs dining space and the neighbouring Rendezvous has a more casual, brasserie feel to it. Each has its own unique decor and atmosphere but the one thing they all have in common is a very Gallic style of cuisine. In Le Cafe the three course fixed price a la carte menu changes every four weeks but you can expect meat and fish dishes du jour. La cote de boeuf with sauce bearnaise, calamars aux chorizo et pois chiches, soupe de poisson and oufes sur le plat florentine are all typical choices. A modicum of french translation skills will help when it comes to deciphering the menu. Hidden away down its own little alley, stumbling on this romantic restaurant is like discovering a well kept secret available only to those in the know. You'll find Le Cafe and Le Grenier in Charterhouse Mews off Charterhouse Square, Le Rendezvous, meanwhile, is at 22 Charterhouse Square.

Le Cafe Du Marche is three restaurants under one roof - Le Cafe, Le Grenier and Le Rendezvous. Le Cafe is an elegent French restaurant on the ground floor, Le Grenier is a private upstairs dining space and the neighbouring Rendez..
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Puglia (in latin Apulia) is the beautiful southern region in Italy and that is where Vincenzo (the owner) comes from bringing along tradition and culture .
At Apulia You will find mostly Apulian ingredients,products without manipulation of any kind, healthy and natural .
Vincenzo use to say " Seeing my dishes that come back empty , seeing a customer that gets up to shake my hand and telling me that he did live a beautiful and memorable event , knowing that he will remember my plate even in a year gives me the best satisfaction as restaurateur.
My favorite ingredients are extra virgin olive oil,vegetables and fish that I always use, natural products with no artificial thickeners or dyes.My clients and all kinds , from all over the world , throughout the year I have more local customers , the summer tourists arrive , people search emotions, and flavors. My restaurant is to discover, is hidden : who is this far is an explorer , a seeker.

Puglia (in latin Apulia) is the beautiful southern region in Italy and that is where Vincenzo (the owner) comes from bringing along tradition and culture .
At Apulia You will find mostly apulian ingredients,products without manip..
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After 17 years as chef director Mark Hix left Caprice Holdings, famous for The Ivy, J Sheekey, Daphne's and a few other well known London restaurants, and opened three restaurants in quick succession. 2008 was a busy year for Hix when he launched The Albermarle in Brown's Hotel, his Oyster & Fish House in Lyme Regis and this Oyster & Chop House round the back of Smith's. Appropriately, given the proximity to Smithfield Meat Market, the menu here includes a long list of unusual cuts of meat such as veal T-bones, bacon chops, Porterhouse, fillet steak-on-the-bone and venison cutlets. British oysters also feature and Helford Natives or Colchester Rocks can be eaten sitting up at the long marble and wooden oyster bar.

After 17 years as chef director Mark Hix left Caprice Holdings, famous for The Ivy, J Sheekey, Daphne's and a few other well known London restaurants, and opened three restaurants in quick succession. 2008 was a busy year for Hi..
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Comptoir Gascon operated as a deli with a few tables until they switched things around in October 2005, reducing the deli counter and installing enough seating for around 50 covers. Since then it has received some brilliant notices from critics and customers alike, as well as several awards and a Bib Gourmand since 2008. Not one for vegetarians, the menu features 'piggy treats', a ballotine of pig's cheek, an entire section dedicated to duck and a charcoal grill offering, as well as several burgers. Only wines from south-west France are available and there is a pre-theatre option. The restaurant is small which adds to the intimacy and enjoyment of the meal. There's no music, and the waiters are enthusiastic and friendly.

Comptoir Gascon operated as a deli with a few tables until they switched things around in October 2005, reducing the deli counter and installing enough seating for around 50 covers. Since then it has received some brilliant not..
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This bustling warehouse conversion is packed out at every hour of the day, but still manages to find seats for everyone, and to offer quick service and consistently high standards. The noisy second-floor dining room, with its bare brick walls and comfy seats, is a classic piece of post-industrial design, while the more formal top floor enjoys panoramic views over St Paul's and the City. The ground floor has a bar and comfy sofas. It's at its best with the simplest items - burgers and pasta are the staple diet of the young banking and media types eating here, and the excellent fry-ups are a City of London staple.

This bustling warehouse conversion is packed out at every hour of the day, but still manages to find seats for everyone, and to offer quick service and consistently high standards. The noisy second-floor dining room, with its bar..
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With over 15 years heading the kitchen at one of London's best known restaurants, The Ivy, Chef Alan Bird sets up his own restaurant with Bird of Smithfield. The team behind Bird includes Steve Collins, Georgia Muir and Sian Austin, all of whom have previously worked with the Conran family - the latter two at Tom's Notting Hill eateries. Set over five floors of an old Georgian town house, the venue includes a restaurant, lounge bar, basement cocktail bar, a private dining room with a chef's table and a roof terrace overlooking the towers of Smithfield Market. The food is modern British, exploring the influence of British food both historically and presently, and includes dishes such as lobster, pan fried calves liver and Alan's shepherd's pie, which became a cult dish at The Ivy. While the overall feel is of being in a private members club with Harris Tweed and herringbone fabrics in the dining room, and art and antiques dotted around. After dinner, forgo the taxi and head to The Birdcage basement bar for inviting cocktails overseen by London-based bar consultancy Fluid Movement (Purl, Worship St Whistling Shop and Dach & Sons) and live late-night music and DJs. Or, the rooftop bar serves a potent bourbon, vodka and tequila cocktail that's bottled and served fizzy.

With over 15 years heading the kitchen at one of London's best known restaurants, The Ivy, Chef Alan Bird sets up his own restaurant with Bird of Smithfield. The team behind Bird includes Steve Collins, Georgia Muir and Sian Au..
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Will Beckett and Huw Gott, the duo behind the Hawksmoor restaurants, have now branched out and opened Foxlow. Located on St. John Street, the split-level restaurant is situated within a Grade II listed former cork warehouse and is the first non-Hawksmoor venture from the pair. Housing two ground floor dining areas and a first floor gallery, the neighbourhood restaurant and bar has a more intimate feel than its Hawksmoor siblings. Steaks do feature on the menu but the main focus is the slow-smoked and charcoal dishes, such as the eight hour bacon rib with maple and chilli, and ten hour beef shortrib with kimchi. Sides include beef dripping potatoes and sausage-stuffed onion, and a salad bar provides side, starter and main options. Guests can also expect the high quality cocktails that the Hawksmoor restaurants are famed for and a selection of reasonably priced wines.

Will Beckett and Huw Gott, the duo behind the Hawksmoor restaurants, have now branched out and opened Foxlow. Located on St. John Street, the split-level restaurant is situated within a Grade II listed former cork warehouse and i..
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Inspired by slow cooking culture, Lazybones is a laid back restaurant and bar that serves hearty meat dishes. Diners can feast on pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket, spicy chicken wings and American style hot dogs. DIY popcorn is also available, allowing for customers to choose from intriguing options such as Hot & Spicy, Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream & Chive and Ranch. To wash down these sticky treats, a selection of hard drinks, cold beers, ciders and cocktails are available. Putting a ban on jukebox hogging, guests can also revel in becoming a virtual DJ for the night with a jukebox facility that's controlled by mobile phones. Simply 'check-in' at the bar and a Secret DJ app will allow you to pick your favourite tunes from the comfort of your booth or bar stall. But if the others diners' choices aren't your cup of tea, stay entertained by admiring the crazy graphics, witty scrawls and hand-painted pop-culture references that ornate the walls.

Set against the historic Farringdon backdrop in London, Vinoteca - Farringdon offers a regularly-changing menu of largely British cuisine together with a spattering of innovative European dishes. Running as a wine shop-cum-restaurant, Vinoteca boasts hundreds of bins from all over the world. Along with an award-winning culinary team steering the helm, Vinoteca restaurant enjoys an authentic ambience.

Set against the historic Farringdon backdrop in London, Vinoteca - Farringdon offers a regularly-changing menu of largely British cuisine together with a spattering of innovative European dishes. Running as a wine shop-cum-restau..
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Inspired by Aesop's tales, The Fable is a Farringdon bar and restaurant based around story telling; everything from the decor - the vintage typewriter, the library lined with leather bound story books - to the cocktails tells a story. Created by Drake & Morgan, responsible for sister venues such as The Folly, the parlour, The Anthologist and, most recently, the happenstance, The Fable has floor-to-ceiling windows and seats 426 across its three floors. The site on Holborn Viaduct was once a dwelling house dating back to the 15th century. As well as the bar and restaurant there's a wine room, a florist's - featuring a roll-top bath overflowing with blooms - and a deli stocked with Borough Market delights.

Inspired by Aesop's tales, The Fable is a Farringdon bar and restaurant based around story telling; everything from the decor - the vintage typewriter, the library lined with leather bound story books - to the cocktails tells a s..
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Anna Hansen hasn't moved far from her former employer Fergus Henderson - whom she worked with back in 1992 at The French Dining House Room - setting up her Clerkenwell restaurant, The Modern Pantry, just down the road from his landmark eaterie, the St John. Overlooking St John's Square, this is a second venture for the New Zealander who used to co-own our favourite Marylebone tapas fusion place, The Providores. With such a culinary pedigree it's no surprise that The Modern Pantry opened to great excitement in August 2008 and, over time, has proved that it more than lives up to the hype. With a ground floor cafe, first floor restaurant and pantry (deli) under one roof, you can sample the internationally influenced three course menu, order birthday cake or take a sandwich away for lunch. We'd recommended settling in for the full experience, sampling innovative dishes like red cabbage and miso soup and cassava chips served with tomato chilli jam and crème fraïche. Mains continue the treat for adventurous eaters - with choices of sake and soy butternut squash risotto dressed with cashew and mint pesto, and roast pork belly with chocolate and balsamic vinaigrette. For afters, Earl Grey panna cotta served with blackberry and liquorice jelly or chocolate mousse cake with tamarind caramel and cocoa chilli crumbs are typical of the tempting choices that you'll surely find room for.

Anna Hansen hasn't moved far from her former employer Fergus Henderson - whom she worked with back in 1992 at The French Dining House Room - setting up her Clerkenwell restaurant, The Modern Pantry, just down the road from his la..
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